Can PE Triple Crown be won? - Turf Talk
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www.turftalk.co.za / editor@turftalk.co.za Thursday 8 April, 2021
Pic-Pauline Herman.
Can PE Triple Crown be won?
AFTER a historic day for South African horse racing on Saturday in Johannesburg, it is
time for the Eastern Cape to join the party, writes Henk Steenkamp
On Saturday at Turffontein, Malmoos won the back in 2003. She secured a bonus of R220
WSB SA Derby and War Of Athena destroyed 000 for her connections.
her opposition in the Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks to
claim the SA Triple Crown and the SA Triple This coming Friday sees the running of the
Tiara respectively. second leg in the WSB East Cape Poly
Challenge, a Challenge that was introduced in
This was the first time the Triple Crown and 2016 and there has been no Triple Crown
Triple Tiara were both won at the same winner yet.
meeting
Viking Moon is the latest horse that will try to
The attention now turns to the Fairview track in become the first to win all three legs of the
Greenbushes on Friday to see if the Eastern Challenge.
Cape can also produce a Triple winner.
After winning the first leg last month over
The only winner like this that one finds in the 1200m (above), trainer Alan Greeff and jockey
East Cape records, is Stormy Appeal that won Greg Cheyne weren’t that optimistic about
the East Cape Challenge for fillies and mares .Viking Moon’s chances over the longer 1400m
of the second leg. (to Page 2)
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Can PE Triple Crown be won?—from Page 1
It will be interesting to see Cheyne’s tactics to To qualify for the consolation bonus, a horse
get the best out of Viking Moon. Viking Moon must compete in all three races and win at least
has been priced up as the favourite to win one of them.
Friday’s race.
If Viking Moon doesn’t win on Friday, the focus
The bonus for a horse winning all three legs of will shift to that consolation bonus. He is
this Challenge is R250 000, but there is also leading the points table for that with 10 points,
the consolation bonus of R50 000 for the horse followed by Dubula (3) and Earth Hour (2).
that does the best in the three races.
East Cape Poly Challenge 1400
13-10 Viking Moon
18-10 Marmara Sea
5-1 Earth Hour
8-1 Dubula
10-1 Var’s Boy
14-1 The Highwayman
16-1 Philos
40-1 Quintay Enquiries: Jo Knowles on 083 399 6353
joknowles.ems@gmail.com
www.gggaming.bet
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Will another legend be born?
As it’s the Grand National on Saturday (6:15pm SA time), here’s a reminder of perhaps the
most memorable finish in the history of the great race. Legend Red Rum (L) gets to
runaway leader Crisp in the shadow of the post to score the first of his three wins (1973).
4
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What does a Grand National winner look like?
Cloth Cap. Pic-John Grossick.
Studying recent history gives a good idea of Only one of the last ten winners had scored
what a modern Grand National winner looks more than twice that season, which counts
like – and the sort of horse that tends not to against The Storyteller in this year's field.
come out on top nowadays
At least one top-three finish in last three
Aged eight to 11 runs
This is no race for old horses, nor for raw An out-of-form horse will not win the world's
youths. All of the last ten winners were between most famous chase and a contender ought to
eight and 11 years old. have least hinted they were in good shape in
the build-up to the race.
That would count against the seven-year-olds
Secret Reprieve, The Long Mile and Farclas Nine of the last ten winners had finished in the
plus veterans Definitly Red, Blaklion, Vieux first three in one of their previous three races,
Lion Rouge and Takingrisks – no horse of their which is not the case this year for Milan Native,
age has won since Amberleigh House in 2004. Balko Des Flos, Hogan's Height, Alpha Des
Obeaux, Blaklion, Definitly Red, Jett, Plan Of
Won over at least 3miles (+/- 5000m) Attack, Valtor, Captain Drake,
Stamina is even more crucial in a modern Minellacelebration, Tout Est Permis, Ballyoptic,
Grand National as the easier fences allow the Crievehill, The Hollow Ginge or Flying Angel.
field to go faster and dodgy stayers do not last
home. Between three and six runs since the start
of August
A previous success over 3m is a sign that a Roger Federer needs match practice before
horse may get the trip and nine of the last ten Wimbledon and it is the same with a
winners had one on their CV – those without racehorse – though neither should see so much
one this year include Minella Times, action that they are spent on the big day.
Discorama, Farclas, Class Conti, The Long
Mile, Balko Des Flos, Hold The Note and Eight of the last ten Grand National winners
Musical Slave. had run between three and six times in the
eight months beforehand.
Won no more than twice that season
A busy and successful campaign prior to That suggests Kimberlite Candy, Discorama,
Aintree raises doubts as to whether a horse Bristol De Mai, Anibale Fly, Hogan's Height, OK
may have peaked too soon – or shown their Corral, Give Me A Copper and Talkischeap
hand too early and been given too much weight may not have been out enough, whereas The
by the handicapper as a result. Storyteller and Tout Est Permis have done too
much. (to Page 8)
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What does a National winner look like—from Pg 6
Outsider Lord du Mesnil meets all the Criteria
Officially rated 148-160 fancies, that is a negative for Any Second Now,
Being asked to carry a big weight makes Grand Magic Of Light, The Storyteller and Bristol De
National success unlikely while those at the Mai (too many) and Burrows Saint and Secret
other end of the handicap have a low hit-rate as Reprieve (not enough).
well.
So the winner is…
All bar two of the last ten winners had a BHA Hot favourite Cloth Cap matches every single
rating between 148 and 160, which counts trend for age, rating, experience, campaign and
against Bristol De Mai, The Storyteller and rate of success, nor has he ever run in the race
Chris's Dream at the top of the field and all before.
those from Canelo and below at the bottom.
Among those at longer odds, Lord Du
Running in the National for the first time Mesnil also has the profile of a modern Grand
The National fences have lost much of their National winner.
unique quality in recent years and previous
experience is no longer a huge asset. Nine of www.racingpost.com
the last ten winners were running in it for the
first time.
With no National last year, those making a
second attempt are thinner on the ground than
usual, though Magic Of Light (second), Anibale
Fly (fifth) and Lake View Lad (pulled up) all took
part in 2019 when Vieux Lion Rouge (15th) was
having his fourth crack.
Chasing experience
Seven of the last ten winners had run in
between 10 and 16 chases. Among the leading
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Daring Tact eyes Hong Kong QE II Cup
Superstar Daring Tact (above-pic: JRA) of Amazing Star winning the Group Two Sprint
headlines an entourage of five Japanese Cup at 178-1 on Monday – the home team
Group One winners set to raid Sha Tin for faces a tough task holding out the two-time
FWD Champions Day later this month. Group One winner.
The Haruki Sugiyama-trained four-year-old, The trio from the Sprint Cup – Amazing Star,
who swept the Japanese Fillies’ Triple Crown Stronger and Beauty Applause – have all paid
last year, joins Loves Only You, Kiseki and the HK$180,000 supplementary entry fee to
Glory Vase, who captured the 2019 Hong Kong take part.
Vase, in a four-pronged attack on the QE II Cup
(2,000m). They join Richard Gibson’s duo of Wellington
and Rattan, the Frankie Lor Fu-chuen-trained
They take on Hong Kong’s reigning Horse of pair of Big Party and Fat Turtle, Voyage Warrior
the Year Exultant, stablemates Furore and and Jolly Banner from the Ricky Yiu Poon-fai
Time Warp, as well as Glorious Dragon and stable, as well as Computer Patch, Sky Field
Chefano in the HK$25 million Group One. and Wishful Thinker in the HK$18 million
feature.
The other traveller is Danon Smash, who has
won the Hong Kong Sprint and While the visitors are set to dominate the
Takamatsunomiya Kinen in his past two starts, markets in those two events, Hong Kong is
and he returns for the Chairman’s Sprint Prize. assured of at least one victory on the day with
no internationals making the trip for the HK$20
Takayuki Yasuda’s six-year-old surprised million Champions Mile.
punters by saluting at $22 in December, but he
is set to start a short-priced favourite with Hong Just seven horses will take part in the Group
Kong’s elite sprinting ranks at their lowest One Champions Mile but fans will be excited to
depths in years. see the clash between the city’s best horse
Golden Sixty – who is chasing his 14th
Following the withdrawals of Classique Legend consecutive win – and Hong Kong Derby hero
and Hot King Prawn last week – and the shock Sky Darci. (continues Page 12)
1011
Daring Tact eyes QE II—from Page 10
Last year’s champion Southern Legend (below) thrilling sporting action, with the best of Hong
is back to defend his title with Chairman’s Kong lining up against a top-line contingent of
Trophy winner Mighty Giant, Ka Ying Star, Japanese raiders,” he said.
Healthy Happy and More Than This rounding
out the field. “We started work in January to once again
overcome the myriad challenges from the
global pandemic and stage a day of world-class
sport, including some international participation
consistent with our core principles for managing
Covid-19 risks and meeting all health
precautionary requirements set by the [Hong
Kong government].”
Once in Hong Kong, the Japanese participants
will be able to operate in a “racing bubble” just
as they did for last year’s Hong Kong
International Races.
This means they will not have to complete
the mandatory three-week quarantine.
In total, 29 horses – including nine individual
Group One winners – will contest the three Those in the bubble will be allowed to travel in
features on April 25 that are worth a combined separate groups to Sha Tin to work their
HK$63 million. horses, however they will be required to spend
any remaining time in their hotel rooms.
Given the logistical challenges presented by
Covid-19, the fact there is any international www.scmp.com
competition at all is a big win, according to
Jockey Club executive director of racing FILL A SPACE LIKE THIS, HERE,
Andrew Harding. FOR THE PRICE OF A FACE MASK!
mail: editor@turftalk.co.za
“It is very exciting to see that the 2021 edition
of FWD Champions Day will provide such
1213
I Am Invincible stars at Inglis
Pic-Bronwyn Healy
Yearlings by super stallion I Am Invincible Odeum’s owners for $1.95 million - a record
were the stars of the show including one price-tag for progeny of the stallion. The filly will
which set a record on the second day of the be trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr.
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale on
Wednesday. “In my opinion by the best stallion in the
country from my favourite family in the
Stock by the Yarraman Park resident charged country,” Mills told Inglis TV.
out of the blocks with three million-dollar plus
babies from the opening 13 lots of the second “I don’t think I’m overstating it when I say that’s
session of the sale. a collector’s item that you’ll get very few
opportunities to buy.
Five seven-figure I Am Invincibles on
Wednesday took the stallion’s haul to seven for “Same ownership group as Odeum and hope-
the sale after producing two million-dollar fully we can get the same result.”
offerings on Tuesday.
The second lot of the day saw bloodstock agent
Lot 340 (above), an I Am Invincible filly out of Guy Mulcaster go to $1.2 million to land Blue
“blue hen mare” Hips Don’t Lie set the ring Diamond Stakes winner Catchy’s first foal, an I
alight when selling to Shamus Mills on behalf of Am Invincible filly. (to Page 16)
The home of Horizon (SAF), by Dynasty
1415
I Am Invincible stars—from Page 14
“We’re so lucky with the support of Hermitage that are with Chris (Waller) that are showing a
and we picked out two beautiful I Am Invincible lot of promise and so it gives you the
fillies,” Mulcaster said. confidence to come back and buy this.
“We managed to get the one yesterday in “This is a lovely type. Chris Waller and Guy
parnership and we’ve got this one today. (Mulcaster) and James Bester, the whole team
Catchy was such a great race mare and this really liked this horse so it gave us the confi-
filly is just such an athlete. dence to go ahead and buy it.”
She’s going to go with the other one and Chris
(Waller) has got the pair of them.” They also paid $1.1 million for a Written Tycoon
colt from Dream Play, the dam of VRC Sires’
The I Am Invincible filly landed by Hermitage, in Produce Stakes winner Zululand.
partnership with Coolmore on Tuesday, was a
daughter of Vezalay and cost $1.25 million. The other million-dollar I Am Invincible yearling
is out of the Elusive Quality mare Caveat and
Coolmore were also back in action on was purchased by agent Andy Williams for
Wednesday paying $1.4 million for an I Am bang on $1 million.
Invincible colt (below) out of former top race
mare, the multiple Group One winner Cosmic “We put this horse in that top bracket, one of
Endeavour. the best colts of the sale,” Williams said. “He’s
just a lovely athletic horse that walks so well.”
Williams said no trainer has been chosen yet
for the colt.
Later in the day, Rosemont principal Anthony
Mithen said he couldn’t resist when the 'I Am
Invincible x Heart Of Thrills' filly walked into the
ring. It took his final bid of $1.2 million to secure
the brown filly.
“It’s a family that’s been close to our hearts for
a while with Thrillster doing really good things,”
Mithen said.
Pic-Bronwyn Healy
Meanwhile, former champion Victorian trainer
Peter Moody was the last man standing when
“I Am Invincible doesn’t need any introduction securing the Zoustar and Fireworks colt for
to what he’s doing at the moment,” Tom $1.15 million before Matt Laurie paid $1.25
Magnier said. million for another Zoustar colt, out of Lady
Jivago.
“We’ve had Home Affairs and we’ve got a
couple of good horses that we bought last year www.punters.com.au
1617
What does National winner look like—from Pg xx
1819
Tribute to a quiet legend
To know when enough is enough is one of Johnson has decided to call time on his
the biggest tests for the outstanding illustrious riding career as a jump jockey.
sportsman. It seems almost inevitable that
the latest severe injury and one caused not Now 43, Johnson is also second to a record-
by occupational wear-and-tear but a car holder, his great friend and lifelong rival A P
crash with nobody else to blame will prove McCoy, in terms of championships and career
to be the ultimate end of Tiger Woods’ wins.
illustrious career.
He bows out coincidentally in another landmark
Thursday is the start of the 2021 Masters and occasion in his chosen sport, as the 2021
while the delayed 2020 event was contested Grand National meeting, also after a Covid19
last autumn after the normal April date interruption last April, also starts today.
succumbed to Covid19, Masters19 brought an
almost surreal fifth win for Tiger in the year’s Unlike McCoy he never won the race but rode
first Major golf tournament. in it a record 23 times, a distinction that will be
hard to beat given the potential for injury in his
Woods’ tally of 15 leaves him agonisingly three chosen profession.
short of Jack Nicklaus’ record and I’m sure the
Golden Bear will have been waiting while Typically the ever-modest Johnson chose a
designing magical courses around the world for quiet spectator-free afternoon at Newton Abbot
the Tiger to pounce. to announce his departure after almost echoing
in its quarter-century time-frame Woods’ period
Even a bear needs to watch his back, but now in the public eye.
81-year-old Jack can almost certainly and
contrary to the fears of much of his later life, While Woods’ marital difficulties and multiple
rest easy with his pre-eminence secure. affairs were a feature of the middle part of his
fame, Johnson also had a period when briefly
Nineteen months after Eldrick Tont Woods first he got nearer the world of the paparazzi than
saw the light of day in Cypress, California, he would have liked.
another future most durable sportsman came
into this world in Herefordshire, England, and For a while he had a relationship with Zara
also in the week of the Masters, Richard Phillips (now Tindall), (to Page 22)
2021
Tribute to a quiet legend—from Page 20
Sir AP McCoy and Richard Johnson size each other up in their younger days
Princess Anne’s daughter. The potential mother the earth. But a year earlier trainer Toby
-in-law and possible spouse are both talented Balding arranged to bring over from Ireland a
equestriennes and Olympic medal winners so young man who had been an apprentice in Jim
that was an area of harmony. Bolger’s Coolcullen stable.
Knowing Richard, though, and at a time when At the time he was a colleague in that hard
Meghan Markle’s position into the same family breeding ground for jockeys, future trainers and
has caused such conflict, I’m sure this modest remarkable characters at the same time as
and now happily married family man with wife Aidan O’Brien and Willie Mullins. That of course
and three children will be retiring to his farm in was AP and after winning 74 races in his
his home county with as much relief as conditionals’ season – the year before Johnson
satisfaction. – McCoy compiled an astonishing 160 victories
compared to Maguire’s 130.
A multiple amateur champion, Tiger Woods
didn’t win his first professional tournament until Many expected Maguire to strike back, but
August 1996 at the age of 20. Johnson, who instead Maguire gradually declined into being a
rode his first winner aged 16 in the 60-80 wins a year rider, After another decade
1993/4season was also a champion early on, he took up training back home in Ireland with
taking the conditional jockeys’ title with 53 wins some success before retiring a few years ago.
in 1995/6.
One lovely morning in the late summer of 2019
In those early days Richard Dunwoody was the I was on the O’Brien gallops at Ballydoyle and
top rider, but as his powers started to decline Adrian was happily employed as one of the
after his final title in 1994/5, it was Adrian work riders, 18 months short of his 50th
Maguire whom most people expected to inherit birthday. (continues Page 25)
2223
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Tribute to a quiet legend—from Page 22
While the Maguire challenge petered out, straight-forward job of maintaining being the
Johnson flourished. His first century came in champion.
1996-7 and until this season he had never
failed to achieve at least that mark. Despite He came through that, having learned his trade
this, McCoy would never relinquish his almost as stable jockey with the late David Nicholson
manic hold on the top spot. Both superstar and for the rest of his career with Philip Hobbs,
jockeys had the same talented agent Dave who jokingly referred to Johnson’s thrifty nature
Roberts, but with McCoy always getting first as well as showing the great affection he and
dibs it took a rare personality to keep going in his wife Sarah hold for him.
the way Dickie did for so long.
Anyone who knows him will not be surprised
For 19 consecutive years Dickie finished that trainer and rider never had a cross word in
runner-up. There was plenty of scepticism 20 years.
that he would ever step up to the title,
losing focus in the way that Adrian Maguire When quite early in his career Johnson and a
had fallen short. number of other leading jockeys were able to
accept the gift of some smart suits with the ex-
clusive Yves St Laurent label, the thriftiness
was able to thrive. Of course, the jockeys’ ben-
efactor would wine and dine them and like to
know their potential winners.
My friend, the intermediary was a particular pal
of Johnson’s, often meeting for a coffee, but
after a while he had to call time on the
information stream.
As he recalls: “I know jockeys are usually
poor tipsters, but Richard was the worst I’ve
known all the years I’ve been racing.
Dave Roberts (above) had a plan, though, and “He’ll discuss his rides and say which he likes,
once the fully-motivated agent got Johnson off and then pass on what he’s heard. Many is the
to a summer flyer, by October it was all over. time he’s not fancied his horse, told us the
The two friends and rivals had sat next to each “buzzer” and then ridden an unbelievable finish
other in the weighing rooms of the country and to get up and beat it on the line.
now Johnson sat alone, but Roberts, who just
about runs jump racing with 60 jockeys and “He’s so straight, so talented and so clueless
apprentices (now down one with Johnson’s when it comes to tipping horses. More
retirement) on his books got to work. important, he’s the nicest and most loyal guy
I’ve ever met in racing. No side, no pretention,
The first effect was that he moved up to just 100 per cent Richard Johnson, ” he
number one on the Roberts ladder and got concluded.
many of the spare rides that A P previously sat
on. The effect was electrifying as he got to 235 A lovely testimonial like many we’ve heard. I
winners, the first time he reached a double trust that he won’t be employed as a racing
century in his quarter century of riding. pundit!
To put that in perspective McCoy beat that That’s a thought, I reckon Tiger may want to
score four times, but never in any of his last keep in mind before he sits on the presenters'
dozen championships. bench on a golf course.
Johnson was to get a second double, 201 in his International Racing Club columnist
fourth and final championship of 2018-9 but I Jonathan Quayle Higgins (a pseudonym)
think it’s fair to say that it almost took more to
have the character and determination to brush IF YOU MISS A NEWSLETTER, CLICK
himself down year after year and keep THIS LINK FOR PAST ISSUES
challenging rather than McCoy’s more www.turftalk.co.za
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